Monday 31 October 2011

Soar

Soar!
watercolour 15.5x15.5cm
©2011 Lisa Le Quelenec

I wonder if looking back on 2011 I'll be thinking about how I went through a grey period? I certainly feel like this has been a recurring theme and I have definitely been falling in love with greys and all the colours they contain. The above is a study from a set of five (so far) that I have painted over the last few days, that seem to be turning into an unexpected series. The intention was to jot down some ideas in watercolour for a series of acrylic paintings but I got drawn in (no pun intended) and they've developed into little paintings.

Ironically after all the black watercolour experiments that I did none of these contain any of those colours. These ones have all been done with Indigo, perylene maroon and touches of raw sienna all Daler Rowney artists range on Saunders (I think) 140lb NOT. Lots of wet in wet and encouraging blooms and runs of paint with some wet on dry. I've also used touches of white gouache for the gulls, I could use masking fluid but I think the look would be too harsh, I've only ever been able to use it semi-successfully in more graphic work.

Do they stand well enough on their own not to become acrylic versions? What do you think? Food for thought perhaps... but for later as I really must get some framing finished in time for a deadline this week (yikes!) for the Christmas show at the Hayloft Gallery in Christchurch. 

9 comments:

Bruce Sherman said...

Hi there Lisa!.... and "Soar"... this one does.... via that bright slip-sliding foreground gull!

Your use of cooler greys and blues really applify the presence of these birds... and the feeling that they are floating!

Nicely done! I love it!

Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce

Caroline Simmill said...

Hi Lisa, I think your watercolour has the freshness that a good watercolour requires in order to be really beautiful. I think you have captured the seascape very well and the seagull adds interest to the eye too. I hope this finds a way to a frame. Watercolours do have a beauty all of their own and this one especially!

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Morning Bruce, thank you. I have noticed alot more gulls flying around outside my window lately, they make beautiful shapes to paint. At the weekend they were dive bombing a heron who was flying past so I don't know what he'd done to tick them off.

Wow thank you Caroline! I'm off to the framers later, maybe I'll take it with me..
Have a great day.

Unknown said...

I'm really enjoying seeing all these watercolours from you, Lisa :) This one is gorgeous. Lots of geese, but very few gulls, where I am - If I did hear or see a lot of them, I'd probably be heading for higher ground lol :)

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Hi Michael, I'm quite enjoying these little studies. Watercolours are great for getting the skies down on paper - they change so quickly! A change of medium can be quite refreshing.

If more gulls come your way, let me know and I'll send you some waterwings ;o)

Anonymous said...

Lisa, I really like this little guy too, espeailly the way you have painted the water. What kind of frame are you thinking of?

RH Carpenter said...

Beautiful work and letting the blossoms create the vitality of the sky!! And the main gull looks great (I, too, don't like the hard edges with masking fluid).

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Hi Maggie, thank you. I didn't make it to the framers in the end, I'll have to go before the end of the week. I'm thinking of going with a white washed ash or a pale but dull silver. Definately a single white mount though. Any suggestions?

Hello Rhonda, sshh...I'm really good at those blossom patches ;o) luckily they're good for skies. Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

Lisa, Your idea of ash or white ash sounds great.